165: The characteristics of the demonic tide: physical and mental pollution.

The roar of the Abyss transformed into iron hooves trampling the earth and shrieks tearing through the air.

The first wave of the Devilish Qi tide, a rotting torrent formed by tens of thousands of Abyss lesser demons, slammed against the defensive line at the edge of Lin Zhou's territory like a dark red tsunami!

The five-hundred-meter distance was covered in an instant by the frantic charge of the lesser demons!

These Rank LV5–LV10 monsters were individually insignificant, but their vast numbers, twisted and hideous faces, and fangs dripping with corrosive saliva glinting coldly under the dim sky, made their pure desire for destruction and madness almost tangible.

More importantly, they did not exist in isolation—each lesser demon was entwined with and exuding that viscous, dark red Devilish Qi. Thousands of individual Devilish Qi manifestations connected, forming a suffocating pollution field that constantly eroded both matter and spirit!

"Loose arrows!" Rock Shield's hoarse roar was almost drowned out by the noise of the Devilish Qi tide.

Behind the defensive line, the temporarily armed hunters (composed of some security team members and agile pioneers) struggled to draw their crude hunting bows or crossbows.

Sparse arrows whistled through the air and struck the front Ranks of the Devilish Qi tide!

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

The arrows pierced the foul-smelling bodies of the lesser demons, spraying bursts of dark green filth.

A few lesser demons screamed as they rolled to the ground, instantly trampled into pulp by their peers behind them.

But more lesser demons were only momentarily hindered by the arrows before continuing to charge while roaring!

The damage from the arrows seemed too soft for these tenacious Abyss creatures, and furthermore, the Devilish Qi entwining them was constantly wearing down the arrows' kinetic energy and structure!

Physical attacks were ineffective!

What was more lethal was the mental aspect.

"Awoooo——!!!"

When the Devilish Qi tide closed to within three hundred meters, the shrieks emitted simultaneously by thousands of lesser demons—a mixture of madness, pain, and the desire for destruction—formed an invisible mental shockwave that slammed into the consciousness of the defensive line's guardians!

"Urgh!" Many pioneer warriors turned pale instantly, their hands holding weapons began to tremble, and uncontrollable fear appeared in their eyes.

Even with the mental stability buff from the Net of Law and long-term Confucian education, this mental pollution originating from the Abyss, which directly provoked the most primitive instincts of fear and chaos in living beings, was still extremely penetrating!

At the same time, the pervasive dark red Devilish Qi also made contact with the outermost simple fortifications—the wooden and stone caltrops and the edges of the pits.

Hiss, hiss, hiss—!

A teeth-grinding sound of corrosion rang out!

The wooden parts turned black, softened, and emitted pungent black smoke at a speed visible to the naked eye; although the stone parts did not dissolve immediately, their surfaces became pitted, and their structural integrity noticeably declined!

The physical corrosion was significant!

Just this first wave, the lowest-tier sea of lesser demons, with its accompanying Devilish Qi environment—the dual characteristics of physical corrosion and mental pollution—brought pressure to the defenders far exceeding expectations!

It is conceivable that those Examinees' territories without similar Net of Law, powerful mental protection Divine Spells, or special purification abilities must already be suffering from widespread panic among their kin and the rapid collapse of their fortifications!

"Hold steady! Raise shields!" Rock Shield's eyes were bloodshot as he activated his [Steadfast Protection] talent to its full extent. A steady willpower spread from him, barely stabilizing the minds of the warriors in a small area around him.

He brandished a large wooden shield temporarily reinforced with iron plating, blocking the very front.

However, the vanguard of the Devilish Qi tide was already close at hand!

The foremost lesser demons leaped high, pouncing toward the shield wall with a foul stench!

Just at this critical moment—

Hum!

A clear, resonant sound, as if countless sages were whispering and chanting simultaneously, spread from the center of the territory, from where Lin Zhou was located!

That was the Confucian "Vast Righteous Qi" being driven to its limit, deeply fused with the Fire of Civilization Domain and the Net of Law that Lin Zhou had deployed, producing purification and protection at the level of rules!

As seen with Lin Zhou as the center, the pale golden Civilization Domain shone brilliantly, with countless tiny, seal-script-like golden light spots flowing and flickering within it.

These light spots contained positive concepts and Order rules such as "Benevolence," "Righteousness," "Propriety," "Wisdom," "Trust," "Courage," "Perseverance," and "Order."

The moment the dark red Devilish Qi made contact with this pale golden Vast Righteous Qi Domain—

Sizzle—!!!

A conflict sound, more intense and fundamental than that of wood corroding, resounded across the battlefield!

That was the fierce confrontation between Order and Chaos, Civilization and Destruction, Existence and Void at the microscopic rule level!

【Vast Righteous Qi Domain · Devilish Qi Purification Data Feedback (Real-time)】

Purification Range: 500-meter radius (coincides with the Civilization Domain).

Purification Efficiency (targeting the first wave of lesser demon Devilish Qi):

Devilish Qi concentration reduction: 35%–45% (weaker at the Domain edge, stronger at the center).

Physical corrosion effect suppression: 60% (fortifications, weapons, and armor shrouded in Vast Righteous Qi have their corrosion speed significantly reduced).

Mental pollution weakening: 70% (mental shock, fear induction, and chaos suggestion effects received by units within the Domain are greatly offset).

Attribute suppression offset: Vast Righteous Qi provides an additional approximately 10% all-attribute resistance bonus (against attribute suppression in the Devilish Qi environment); when stacked with the Net of Law, the total offset effect is approximately 25%.

Domain energy consumption: Extremely high (consumes approximately 50 units of Divine Power per second, along with a large amount of mental energy to maintain).

Estimated duration of full-power operation: 15 minutes (based on current Divine Power reserves and Divinity load).

The data was cold, but the effects were immediate!

The lesser demons that rushed into the Vast Righteous Qi Domain found that the dark red Devilish Qi entwining them had encountered its nemesis, rapidly becoming thin and chaotic!

Their foul-smelling bodies, exposed under the light of Order, seemed to emit faint "sizzling" burning sounds, and their charging speed and Aura visibly diminished by a notch!

More importantly, the warriors on the defensive line felt that the frantic shrieks and sense of fear that were almost tearing their minds apart had receded by more than half, like a tide!

Although they could still hear the sounds of the monsters and feel the bloodiness of the battlefield, the chaos and despair originating from the depths of their Souls had been dispelled!

Their minds became clear again, and the hands gripping their weapons stabilized!

"It's the Dominator's Divine Power!"

"I feel much better!"

"These filthy Auras have been blocked!"

Exhilarated shouts rang out across the defensive line.

The recovery of morale was more effective than any encouragement!

"Now! Kill!" Rock Shield seized the opportunity and roared. He slammed his iron-wrapped wooden shield forward, knocking a lesser demon that had pounced in front of him staggering backward. Two warriors beside him immediately thrust their crude spears, piercing it through!

In the rear, the psionic-driven Puppets, having undergone maintenance and recharging, also moved.

Their eyes glowing with stable spiritual light, they took heavy steps, like moving small fortresses, and charged into the weakened Devilish Qi tide!

The [Heavy Strike] skill was activated, and their wooden and stone fists wrapped in crude iron smashed down, directly crushing the fragile skulls of the lesser demons!

The Puppets' construct characteristics made them immune to mental pollution, and their stable energy cores did not fear the weak Devilish Qi corrosion; they were like tigers entering a flock of sheep in the Devilish Qi tide, instantly clearing an area!

The three [Steam-Driven Repeating Ballistae] that Li Mo had sent as support also began to roar!

These ballistae had a sturdier structure and fired specially made iron crossbow bolts with weak armor-piercing and explosive effects; although their resistance to Devilish Qi was average, their physical lethality far exceeded that of hunting bows.

Under the cover of the hissing rain of arrows, swaths of lesser demons were shot down and blown to pieces!

The first contact, under the strong intervention of the Vast Righteous Qi Domain, had miraculously stabilized the defensive line—and even began an effective counterattack!

However, Lin Zhou's face turned pale at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Maintaining the Vast Righteous Qi Domain to counter the pollution of the entire Devilish Qi tide consumed far more than he had anticipated!

His Divinity sent waves of stinging pain from overdraft, and his Divine Power flowed away like a bursting dam.

Fifteen minutes; this was the limit of what he could sustain, and this was only the first wave!

"I cannot just defend without attacking! I must find a more efficient and economical method of purification or response!" Lin Zhou's thoughts raced as his gaze swept across the battlefield.

He saw Pseudo-Hero Spirit (although ordered to enter the secret room, he still insisted on analyzing the battle situation at a relatively safe observation port using his [Learn One, Know Ten] talent) was frantically recording something;

He saw Fire Hammer directing the craftsmen, trying to channel a portion of the "furious spirit coal" energy through simple runes and attach it to arrows or melee weapons, attempting to increase damage against Devilish Qi;

He saw the direction of Su Yueyao's territory (observed vaguely through the Star Gazing Platform), where cold moonlight was fiercely confronting the dark red Devilish Qi, clearly also in a bitter battle.

"Confucian Righteousness is strong, but the consumption is too great, and it leans toward protection and purification.

Mohist Mechanisms and energy attacks are effective, but are limited by Materials and energy.

Legalist Edicts are effective at maintaining Order, but cannot directly inflict damage…

I need to combine them! I must combine the power of the Hundred Schools more efficiently to form a 'combat system' targeting the Abyss Devilish Qi tide!"

Just as Lin Zhou was thinking rapidly, the first wave of the lesser demon sea, after paying the price of over three thousand corpses (most trampled or corroded into slag by the subsequent Devilish Qi tide), finally showed signs of waning.

But they did not retreat; instead, they lingered on the periphery, shrieking. At the same time, heavier footsteps and a more terrifying pressure came from behind the Devilish Qi tide.

"High energy reaction detected! The vanguard of the second wave of the Devilish Qi tide has appeared! Target… Berserk Demon cluster! Estimated quantity: five hundred, Rank LV15–LV25! Mixed with a small number of Abyss Wizard Apprentices (LV20–LV30, long-range Spell units)!"

Juan's urgent voice came through the Net of Law, filled with shock, "They are slower, but… wait! The Star Gazing Platform shows that the Devilish Qi concentration around them is rising sharply! They… they are actively gathering and channeling the Devilish Qi!"

Lin Zhou's pupils constricted!

He saw that behind the remaining lesser demons, hundreds of Berserk Demons, over three meters tall with skin as hideous as cooled lava, holding huge bone clubs or stone axes, were approaching with heavy, uniform steps.

The Devilish Qi entwining them was so thick it almost turned into tangible dark red flames; with every step they took, they left burning footprints on the corroded earth!

What was even more terrifying was that within the Berserk Demon cluster, a few thin, small figures wearing tattered black robes and holding bone staves were vaguely visible—Abyss Wizard Apprentices!

They waved their bone staves, chanting incantations, and the surrounding Devilish Qi gathered toward them and the Berserk Demons as if summoned, making their might even greater!

These guys were not only stronger themselves, but could also control and reinforce the Devilish Qi environment!

"I cannot let them easily approach the defensive line again!" Lin Zhou made a prompt decision, "Rock Shield! Contract the defensive line and hold firm relying on the fortifications! Fire Hammer! Order all Puppets and ballistae to prioritize focusing fire on those black-robed wizards! They must not be allowed to cast Spells successfully!"

"Pseudo-Hero Spirit!" Lin Zhou simultaneously linked to the youth in the secret room via Divine Thought, "Does the Devilish Qi flow pattern you observed have any similarities with the circulation of 'Evil Qi,' 'Vicious Qi,' and 'Chaotic Qi' recorded in the Confucian classics? Can you deduce its 'nodes' or 'weak' links?"

Pseudo-Hero Spirit's clear and focused voice replied immediately: "Teacher, I am comparing them! The Devilish Qi flow is violent and disorderly, but there seem to be weak 'leads' where it gathers, like the whirlpools of a river.

The Berserk Demons and wizards seem to be one of the nodes.

I have observed that when crossbow bolts are fired into areas with dense Devilish Qi, its flow experiences temporary chaos, especially if the arrows are imbued with weak spiritual light (Junior Martial Uncle Fire Hammer's experiment) or Order intent (the aftershocks of Teacher's Domain), the chaos is even greater.

Perhaps we can try… 'breaking the surface with a point,' 'disrupting chaos with Order'?"

Breaking the surface with a point, disrupting chaos with Order!

A brilliant light flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes!

Pseudo-Hero Spirit's words woke him up!

To counter this pervasive pollution, besides large-area purification, one could also conduct precise rule interference and node strikes!

"Fire Hammer! Immediately attempt to combine the most stable purified spirit coal energy with the simplest 'Evil-Breaking' and 'Tranquility' intent runes (I will send you the basic configurations) to produce a batch of 'Demon-Suppressing Arrows' and 'Demon-Breaking Short Spears'!

They don't need much power; the key is to be able to carry the Order intent and strike into the Devilish Qi nodes to induce chaos!"

"Rock Shield! Select the most elite and steadfast warriors, prepare to use the new weapons, and conduct a precise counter-charge. The target—the enemy Spell units and the Devilish Qi gathering cores!"

"Net of Law, contract the range, concentrate power to buff this elite squad, and grant them the temporary states of 'Mental Focus' and 'Action Precision'!"

Orders were issued rapidly one after another.

Lin Zhou also simultaneously contracted the range of the Vast Righteous Qi Domain, concentrating the main power on the frontal defensive line about to engage the enemy, saving consumption.

Can the new strategy work?

The second, more powerful Devilish Qi tide, bringing enemies capable of controlling Devilish Qi, was already at the city gates!

The threat of the Abyss was intensifying layer by layer.

And the wisdom of civilization was also rapidly colliding, evolving, and searching for that glimmer of survival in the desperate situation.